Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-02-18
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER XXI.
BURIED ALIVE, y

CHAPTER XXI. .a&'
d. BURIED ALIVE. =.
Ny secLst, then, was discovered! 4
The blood rushed back upon my
heart, and I am not ashamed to CON
fess that fear--a fear that made me
silent-was my first emotion. It was a
woman whose beauty was a menace,
whose love was a deadly danger. Her
beauty now threatened me; her, love, I
knew well enough, had doubly imperilled
Mary Fortescue's safety. And yet it
was hard to believe that perils and
dangers We're to be feared from the
queenlike and graceful creature who,
with one beautifully moulded arm al
most around me, was looking with a
smile, half mockery, half affection, into
my eyes. ~, A..
quietly covered with one hand the
envelope had been directing. She
might have seen the direction; it was
too late to guard against that, nor did
it greatly matter. Whether she had or
not, the battle was likely enough to
have to be fought out before the Prus-
slams, in the shape of DR.. Shaw, could
arrive upon the field. .-s.-.-
turned to meet her gaze. / saw
closer than eror petore, the lustrous
wealth Of dark hair, with natural waves
m its luxuriance, which gave the same
effect as light and shade confer upon
heads of gold. saw closer than ever
before the broad low forehead, ivory
white, daintily fretted with the irregu-
lar outlines ofthe daiptily curving hair,
the rounded cheek on which flush
had settled, Sc delicately that it seemed
almost to doubt its right to touch the
severe loneliness of the clear Whiteness
which it Illuminated, was close against
my brow; the perfumed perfection of
the lips rich red, showing little
glimpse of small white teeth on one
side, and drawn down with a little line
OF playful irony on the other, seemed
to invite to the ratification of close, a
lifelong alliance; the bounteous curve
Of diyinely moulded breast stirred the
caressing laces that rustled close to my
ear with her melodious low laugh. And
close-closer than all, gazing, not only
into my face, but into my very soul,
burning, fascinating, enchanting, those
wonderful, inscrutable eyes, that
seemed to have mastered all power, and
to be content only with maddening, be-
wildering, tantalising; eyes that made
reason cheap and honor bauble;
eyes that robbed the future of its signi.
ficance, and made the present not only
sublime. but eternal! Then, like the
breath ofair on spring evening
and innocent and full of boundess
and wholesome promise came the
thought of Mary, rich in all womanly
grace, strong in the weakness tnat
makes men worthy of their strength.
No! God forbid that I should forget
you for aflattering smile! I fixed my gaze
upon the Basilisk as if upon some
dangerous animal. I thought of tina,
poor child, so crushed. 50 wronged; ]
thought of the crimes and evil associa,
tons of that unhallowed household,
and Irose, still looking at Miss Beaufoy,
and stood face TO face with the beauti.
full Gree, who wished no good to me
nor to her to wholn / had vowed
service. . 5..$ &. F.
We looked at one another in silence.
She held both my hands and asked: &
SSWhu have vO11 aono fhio p11af@ 3.
There is only one reason which
could excuse it,
''And that is?'' Nj; .1 81. y. 4. II. Y,
"Love!' @
Her eyes dropped a moment. The
color came back into her cheeks,
which had resumed their wonted pale
ness when I arose and confronted
her. + 81 y ri.
That is an excuse for everything. =
she murmured. :@ss11
You must remember Miss Beau
foy," ! said, with some agitation
.'tbat l was anxious to go as soon aa
the immediate reason Of my engage
ment had come to an end. = 7
81 remember that I pressed you 10
stay z she replied very quietly.
s.And / obeyed, against my better
reason. ! had not the courage to cut
myself off from newly-found interest,
newly found hope in life. . 1
s.And I had not the pride, g she said,
'to listen to your better reason.
There was q pause. I knew not
what TO say, 80 y kept silence. She
was evidently thinking Of something.
At last she spoke again. b.
on do not remember me, but ]
remember You. Some years ago you
met me, ii the street, in q music-shop
IL Bond. street. I see you remember
The woman, though you did not identity